Royalty, Resilience and Research to be Celebrated at UKZN Spring Graduation

A queen of the Zulu nation, an eThekwini councillor, and an economist who once experienced homelessness are among the 1 521 graduands being capped at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Spring Graduation ceremonies this week.

Queen Thandekile (MaNdlovu) Zulu, the fourth wife of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, will be awarded a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree for her study on the commercialisation of stevia (a natural sugar substitute) in Kenya.

Her findings advocate for strategic interventions to strengthen the stevia supply chain, which could catalyse economic progress and food security within the region. Some members of the Royal Household are expected to attend her graduation ceremony.

Meanwhile, eThekwini municipality speaker, Councillor Thabani Nyawose, will make a full-circle moment when he graduates with a Master’s in Public Administration at the same campus where he once served as the very first Student Representative Council President (Westville) in the University’s founding year (2004), following a merger between the then University of Durban-Westville and the University of Natal.

Nyawose participated in the negotiations for the merger as he was also the last SRC President of the former University of Durban-Westville.

Another remarkable story that will be celebrated at Graduation is that of Mr Declek Khwazi Magubane whose early life was marked by hardship, including living in orphanages and on the streets of Pietermaritzburg’s CBD after his legal guardians passed away.

Born in KwaMpumuza and raised in Hanniville in the Mgungundlovu District, Magubane’s life turned for the better when at the age of 16, he was taken in by a family who cared for him as one of their own.

He will receive a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics. His thesis, titled: ‘Cross-Country Macroprudential Coordination and Financial Stability in Advanced and Systemic Middle-Income Economies’, explored global policy dynamics in financial regulation.

As a leading research institution, the University is especially proud of the 184 Doctoral graduands whose novel studies have a far-reaching impact on society.

Groundbreaking research by Dr Abba Aji Mallum, who is UKZN’s first PhD graduate in Radiotherapy and Oncology, offers renewed hope for improving cancer care across the continent. Mallum is a leading oncologist and researcher committed to addressing health inequalities across Africa. His study investigated whether shorter courses of radiotherapy (hypofractionation), widely used in high-income countries, could be safely and effectively implemented in sub-Saharan Africa.

UKZN Executive Director: Corporate Relations, Ms Normah Zondo says the 2025 Spring Graduation is filled with inspiring stories that showcase the resilience, diversity and excellence of UKZN’s student body, “Among the graduates are 184 scholars receiving doctoral degrees, affirming the University’s growing reputation for world-class research. The global character of UKZN is reflected in the 74 international students crossing the stage, while the spirit of inclusivity shines through in the success of 19 graduates with disabilities, each of whom has overcome unique challenges on their journey.”

The Spring Graduation ceremonies will take place at the UKZN Westville Campus on the 17th and 18th of September 2025. Most of the graduates completed their studies between May and August, this year.